narrow passage of the northwest Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Japan (south) to the Sea of Okhotsk between Sakhalin Island (east) and the Asian mainland. From 4.5 to 213 miles (7 to 342 km) in width and 393 miles (632 km) long, it is generally shallow with depths less than 700 feet (210 m). The strait, which receives the Amur River in the north, is the site of the Russian ports of Uglegorsk, Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Lesogorsk, and Sovetskaya Gavan. Port operation is severely restricted by ice from mid-November to mid-May.

Tatar — Tatarian /tah tair ee euhn/, Tataric /tah tar ik/, adj. /tah teuhr/, n. 1. a member of a modern Turkic people living in the Tatar Autonomous Republic and adjacent regions of eastern European Russia and in widely scattered communities in western… … Universalium

strait — straitly, adv. straitness, n. /strayt/, n. 1. Often, straits. (used with a sing. v.) a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water. 2. Often, straits. a position of difficulty, distress, or need: Ill and penniless, he was in sad… … Universalium

Strait of Kerch — Cimmerian Bosporus redirects here. For the ancient state, see Bosporan Kingdom. For its rulers, see List of Kings of Cimmerian Bosporus. Location of Kerch Strait … Wikipedia